Footboard-support for motor-vehicles.



PATENTED OCT. 31, 1905.

H. A. KNOX. FOOTBOARD SUPPORT FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY4, 1903.

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HARRY AUSTIN KNOX, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO KNOXAUTOMOBILE COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A

CORPORATION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 81, 1905.

Application filed May 4, 1903. Serial No. 155,642.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY AUSTIN Knox, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State ofMassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements inFootboard-Supports for Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention, while particularly designe for use on automobiles orself-propelled vehicles, is capable of employment upon carriages ofvarious sorts. Heretofore it has been customary to support foldingfootboar'ds by means of straps or chains inclosed in a flexible casing.This arrangement has proven objectionable, because said straps or chainsoften become caught between the body and board when the latter iselevated, thus causing the breakage of the hinges or injury to theboard. Moreover, the connection being flexible the board will jump upand rattle when passing over a rough pavement or road.

The aim of this invention is to overcome the above-noted objections.

The preferred embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawings anddescribed in the following specification; but the right is of coursereserved to make such changes as may fall within the scope of theclaims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view through a portion of avehicle, showing the improved support and the footboard in operativeposition. Fig. 2 is a similar view, but illustrating the footboardelevated. Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the support detached.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to designate similar parts inthe various figures.

In the embodiment herewith illustrated the body is designated generallyby the reference numeral 10 and may be of any desirable or well-knownform, having,however, aspace 11. The footboard (designated by thereferencenumeral 12) is hinged, as shown, at 13, to the lower edge ofthe body and is arranged to be supported in dropped position,asshowninFig. 1, or elevated, as illustrated in Fig. 2, in which latterposition it covers the space 11. A drophinge connection is shown in thepresent instance; but any other form may be employed, if desired. Noparticular claim is made to the parts so far described, the inventionresiding in the support for the footboard, which will now be set forth.

The body 10 is provided with a depending ear 14, secured within thespace 11, and an upstanding ear 15 is secured to the upper face of thefootboard. This ear 15, extending as it does above the surface of thefootboard, is, in effect, a short rigid lever whereby when the board islet down the lower end of the links will be carried past the dead-centerand into toggle'd position, necessitating the pushing inward of thelinks before the board can be swung up to closed position again. A linkconnection is employed between these two ears, said connectioncomprising sections 16, hinged together, as shown at 17, andrespectively to the adjacent ears, as illustrated at 18. The lowersection is preferably longer than the upper and consists of a pair ofmembers, as shown in Fig. 3, these members embracing the lower end ofthe upper section and the lower ear 15.

Now when the footboard isdropped, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the sections16 are in alinement and the various hinge connections are likewisealined. As a result the footboard cannot jar upwardly or rattle, as itis locked in its operative position. Therefore it has this importantadvantage over the ordinary support. At the same time it can be readilyfolded by pressing the link-sections inwardly as the footboard israised. During this movement the parts cannot become caught between thebody and board, as they have a fixed path of movement. Thus it will beseen that the structure fully accomplishes the aim of the inventionpointed out in the preliminary portion of the specification.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

In a vehicle, the combination with a body having an open space, of afootboard arranged to cover the space, and a linked connection betweenthe body and board comprising alink swing the lower end of said douhlelink into pivotally attached to the body and an upstandi toggle relationwith the other parts. ing ear constituting a rigid lever secured to a 10the footboard, and a double center link con- R AUSTIN KNOX 5 sisting ofparallel bars between which said Witnesses:

upstanding ear and a link attached to the body A. E. SMITH, may swing,said upstanding ear serving to; CHAPIN.

